If you’ve been spiraling about your first draft or sitting in front of a blinking cursor like it's judging you… This episode is your big reminder to let your first draft be as messy, weird, lumpy, and unhinged as it needs to be. 

The first draft isn’t about perfection, it’s about aliveness. It’s the start of a relationship, where you and your story are just getting to know each other. You’re learning its voice, its shape, and its secret little quirks. It is awkward, but intimate and sacred. It is the spiritual bond between you, believing in your story, and the STORY THAT CHOSE YOU to write it!

💬 “You can’t revise a story that doesn’t exist. And you’re never going to get it right on the first try.”

💬 “The first draft is for you and the story to get to know each other, to build trust.”

🎂 OH AND APRIL IS CAITLIN'S BIRTHDAY MONTHCheck out their Amazon wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2SSTWSKA9GVO6

Let’s talk about Your Messy, Sacred First Draft:

• How to rebuild creative trust after burnout, depression, or silence

• How mental health, meds, and capitalism can knock us off track

• Normalizing bad art, ugly drafts, and feral aliveness in a world that wants you polished and palatable

• Plus, get all the juicy details on Novel Parkour! Caitlin's FREE 3-day writing workshop where we turn big ideas into flexible outlines—and give your first draft the unhinged, loving start it deserves!

UPCOMING EVENT: NOVEL PARKOUR!!!!

📅 May 16–18 | 💻 It’s free | 🎟 It’s for you

Ready to stop ghosting your story and start building that sacred, messy, magical relationship? Come join Caitlin's free 3-Day Writing Workshop!

👉 Sign up here: https://www.askfishfisher.com/novel-parkour-live-2025

Support the Podcast: Membership Drive on Patreon!

So the pod is back to four episodes a month!! If you want to support the neurodivergent creative chaos and listen to more unhinged, informed, deeply compassionate rants like this one? 

Join Caitlin’s Patreon for bonus mess, early content, and merch! We’re so close to hitting the next Patreon milestone.💋 https://www.patreon.com/caitlinlizfisher

Join our little neurodivergent creative club!

🌞 Want to support these heartfelt conversations about mental health, creativity, and neurodivergence? Hop over to Patreon to keep the podcast going and join us in our free creative community, The Neurodivergent Creative Pod: https://www.askfishfisher.com/pod

Get a copy of the Audacity Bill of Rights when you subscribe to Cait’s newsletter! You’ll get weekly reminders of the power of living audaciously, straight to your inbox.

PS - Caitlin wants to hear from you! Drop Caitlin a DM on Instagram @caitlinlizfisher or leave a comment on the episode (especially if you're tuning in on YouTube).